86 HOW TO SAVE THE SEED OF FLAX. 



to carry ripe seed, it ought to be thin, that the plants may 

 have plenty of air, be in less danger of lodging, and have room 

 to grow to their full size. If it be sown on purpose to have 

 fine soft flax, it should be sown pretty thick, that the plants 

 may rise the closer together, may grow slender and tall, which 

 adds much to the fineness of its quality. Another circumstance 

 worthy of notice is, that if the saving of seed is the object, 

 the flax must stand so long on the field, to bring the seed to 

 maturity, that the rind becomes coarse and dry ; and if the 

 flax is the object, the crop must be pulled somewhat green, to 

 preserve its fine glossy quality ; in which case the seed has not 

 time to arrive at perfection : so that it is scarcely possible to 

 have silky flax and ripe seed from the same crop. 



Although the farmer does not choose to risk the quality of 

 his lint, by allowing the seed to come to maturity, yet the seed 

 ought to be rippled off, after the lint, in the sheaves, has dried 

 so much that this operation may be performed without tearing 

 the rind ; and this seed may be sold to the oil-mill for having 

 the oil extracted. The cakes are an excellent food for cattle, 

 or may be used on grass-lands as a top-dressing. 



Soft water is best for steeping lint; and it is sufficiently 

 watered when the reed breaks without bending, and the rind 

 parts easily from the reed. It is absurd to leave the lint a 

 certain number of days invariably in the canal. When the 

 weather is warm and the water is soft, it is much sooner ready 

 than otherwise. The longer the water has been let into the 

 canal before the lint is immersed into it, the more rapid the 

 putrefaction. Lint is ready to be taken up from the field 

 whenever the bark blisters and rises from the reed. 



In order to save the seed of flax, some persons who are 

 knowing in the business recommend to set up the lint sheaves, 

 after pulling it, in stocks, like grain, and when thoroughly 

 winn to stack it until the next spring. The seed is then easily 

 rubbed off by a roller, without injury to the flax, by putting 

 the sheaves head to head. The profit on saving the seed is 

 estimated to be from 51. to 6/. per acre. The farmer, by this 

 process, has the whole summer before him to water and dress 

 his lint, without encroaching on the operations of the autumn 

 in these respects. 



